Drowning Ruth: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)

Christina Schwarz has worked very hard indeed to create her bestselling novel, "Drowning Ruth." A light epic novel that carries a family over the course of a quarter century starting from just before the first world war through the start of the second world war. All of our central characters are female: two sisters, a daughter, a local friend who becomes close to the daughter and the haunting consequences of life, never brought on by sin or by vengence but rather the typical difficulties of life.The plot is one that unfolded for me within the first seventy pages and held no surprises for me, though as a writer myself my current book utilizes a similar technique. Besides, given honest, caring human condition, the story really could not have unfolded any other way. In regard to plot and heart break, I compare it to McCullough's "The Thorn Birds". In regard to the beauty of each crafted sentence it mixes between Barbara Kingsolvewr and Shiurley Jackson.That in itself is enough to encourage you to read this book. The entire novel is the result of an act done udring a moment of horror; this is true melodrama in the sense that we watch how ordinary people react to extraordinary situations. Nlt every melodrama is a "Sweeney Todd". This one is subtle, rich with intelligence and curushingly beautiful."Drowning Ruth" is compelling and becomes a fast read. Some may claim this to be a feminist work or perhaps historical fiction though I do not. This is a carefully crafted novel about human condition and the things poeople had to do in order to avoid cultural outcasting during the twentie's and thirties. Our Central Character is a sad woman named Amanda (Mandy and Amy as well, depending upon whom is supplying her knick-name) a college educated registerred nurse who suffers from what is surely post traumatic stress dissorder the onset of which occurs during the last year of war while working a Chicago hospital. However the onset of this illness is not at all war-related and a single evening destroys any chance Amanda had to ever have a "normal" life. She returns home to her sister, Mathilda (Mattie - the use of knick names are abundant on all women except for Ruth. I'll let you decider why.)Because the story isn't told chronologically, we get to know Mattie well, despite the fact that she drowns in the lake where her family owns an island within the early pages of the book. Amandea takes on the care of Ruth and then, when Mathilda's husband,Carl returns home from France, a wounded soldier, they settle into a new routine; a family where each of the three members are an island.The island on which they live becomes both a fortress and a metaphor for safety. As with all the men in this book, Carl is dispensed with quietly after a misunderstanding that causes him to leave for work and Amanda and Ruth are once again alone together moving from the farm on the mainland to the cottage on their island.This is a book about communication, love, dedication and family values. This is a book that assures us that even one hundred years ago, people were the same as they are today. This is a book that causes you to silently urge the characters toward choices because we are given more information than they are. So as Amanda and Ruth move through their lives the multitudes of roads not taken would appear to be straight and well matted, while the roads they DO travel are circuitous and require a bit of work with a syth. Ms Schwarz chooses a place to stop telling her story though it is clear that the story could continue on- perhaps even into the 21st Century. But less is more and Schwarz knows this. We get to know our characters so well that we can clearly understand what the next fifty years will bring anyway."Drowning Ruth" is beautifully crafted with a voice that sings.

This story of shame and secrets is almost mythic (and truly original) in its subject matter. Young Ruth is the daughter of Mathilda and Carl (who has gone off to fight in WWI). Mattie's sister Amanda, a nurse who has been caring for seriously ill and injured young men has been called home to help Mattie with Ruth, but she brings influenza with her, and soon both of their parents die from it. Amanda and Mattie struggle to run the Wisconsin farm with the help of a hired man. Amanda is seduced by a married man and becomes pregnant, much to her horror; she does not tell the father of her baby. Mandy and Mattie spend the pregnancy living in a small house which Carl had built for Mattie on an island in the lake abutting the farm. In November Mandy gives birth, panics, and tries to run away with the baby across the ice; little Ruth also panics and follows her. When Mattie discovers they are gone, she too runs after Mandy but falls through the ice with Ruth in her arms, and Mandy rescues Ruth but is unable to rescue Mattie. Mandy, back at the farmhouse, gives her infant away to a friend who has recently lost a baby and raises Ruth with care. Soon Carl returns from the war and as he recovers he tries to help on the farm although he has little talent for it. During grade school Ruth and Mandy's daughter Imogene become fast friends, eventually attending secretarial school together, going to dances, and planning to work together in Chicago. Both Ruth and Imogene become romantically interested in young Arthur whose father Chester is, in fact, Imogene's father, so when Mandy becomes aware of this romance she panics and vows to tell Chester the truth – that Chester is Imogene's father – but she unintentionally causes Chester's death. The Chicago plans dry up, Imogene marries another, and Ruth vows to stay on the farm. None of this narrative is revealed in a chronological way. Rather, changes in narration and flashes of uncertain memory on the part of Ruth trigger revelations until the whole story is gradually known to the reader. This is a complex, well-told story which is fascinating to read.

Yet again, based on glowing reviews, I bought this book and staggered through 338 pages trying to determine specifically why it's been so lauded.While the writing is just fine, crisp and tidy, and the characters are well wrought, there's really nothing new here. Certainly, there are no surprises. The book begins in 1919 and ends in 1941. I don't know why. There are no definitive period details that set the era for us (aside from brief mentions of corsets and hair bobbing). No one seems to suffer any of the ill effects that so many suffered in that period between the two world wars. It's a tale, often told, of history repeating itself. Everything is telegraphed, so that one expects exactly what is delivered. The character of Amanda, whose voice is predominant throughout, is so irritating that it's difficult to be sympathetic. And her niece, Ruth, who starts out an interesting, quirky and determined child who often thinks how wonderful it would be to have her own store (a lovely touch), deteriorates in the latter part of the book into a variation on a theme of Amanada and ultimately is just as irritating as her aunt.The secondary characters, Ruth's father, Carl, and the farm help, Rudy, are more interesting and sympathetic. But the author disposes of Carl about midway through the tale (and doesn't mention him again until the final few pages; and Rudy is merely retired off without ever being allowed any significant input--despite the fact that he's featured throughout the book). From that point on the narrative lumbers to its very predictable conclusion. As a first novel, it's a solid effort, but it suffers from a lack of oxygen. It's like spending a very long evening in a dimly lit room, on an uncomfortable sofa, with people you've just met, who are not gifted in the art of conversation. You can't wait to get outside and gulp down fresh air.

A surprisingly good story. I was really quite pleasantly surprised. Her next books will be something to look forward to.

LOVED this book. The characters were wonderfully developed, with a great plot that always had you guessing. Suspenseful and emotional. You cannot put it down. One of my favorites I have read in a long time, I love books like this.

great book

Great book. Happy with the price and quick delivery

Well written and a compelling story.